A good multi-tool tightens, trims, cuts and fixes gear when you are far from a workshop. Here are five types of camping multi-tool and how to pick one.

A good firestarter is the cheap insurance that turns a damp, windy dusk into a lit fire in seconds. Compare ferro rods, matches, lighters and tinder.

A good camp mug keeps coffee hot from first light to the last sip. How to choose an insulated camping tumbler or mug that actually holds heat.

The pegs and guy lines are the cheapest part of any shelter, yet they decide whether your tent holds through a gusty night.

A microfibre towel is one of the cheapest, most useful things to pack: light, absorbent, and dry again within the hour.

A camping pillow quietly makes or breaks a night outdoors. Here are the main types and five options worth comparing for your sleep style.

A harsh white lantern is great for cooking or finding something in the dark, but it kills the mood the moment you want to relax by the fire.

Dirty dishes are the unglamorous reality of every camping trip, and how you handle them matters more than you’d think.

Camping with kids is one of the best things you can do as a family — and a cold, sleepless, gear-less child is the fastest way to ruin it.

Loose ice works, but it melts into a soggy mess, has to be replaced constantly, and leaves your food swimming at the bottom of the cooler.